Matthew "Spider" Burton (born 19 May 1970) was
an Australian rules footballer.
He played as a ruckman and
began his Football career at Subiaco. "Spider" Burton, as he's
commonly known, because of his towering 210 cm frame, was
formerly the AFL's tallest player (He has
since been eclipsed by another Docker in Aaron
Sandilands and Western Bulldog Peter Street. They both stand at
211 cm tall).

Matthew Burton's skill level was a bit unusual for someone of
his height. He regularly executed perfect half-volley pick ups,
clever handballs in tight
situations or first-grab marks low down. He displayed these acts of
skill too regularly during his career for them to be considered
flukes.

Contents

West
Coast

Selected by West Coast with pick #36 in the 1990 National
Draft, Burton spent 4 seasons on the Eagles' senior list before
he was eventually de-listed (without playing a game for the club)
at the end of the 1994 season (under an AFL ruling that clubs cut
list numbers back from 52 to 40).

Fremantle
Dockers

In 1994 Fremantle saw something in this 210 cm giant and he
was picked up in the pre-season
draft. He played in Fremantle's first match and
developed a cult following. In 1999 he was made vice-captain of the
club but played only seven games that year before being
de-listed.

Kangaroos

In 1999 Burton was thrown a lifeline by the Kangaroos when they
picked him with selection 74 in the pre-season
draft. Burton then took off for where he left and continued to
carve out a successful AFL career. He once again became a cult
figure and enjoyed enthralling the crowds with his tap work and
surprisingly ability to collect the footy from below his knees. A
highlight came in 2003 he had the chance to ruck against Aaron
Sandilands, Seeing the two big men go toe toe at the Telstra Dome was a sight to behold.